Hello,I think that the front stance in TKD is not what it should be.I mean after all,look at how open for an attack the stance is,it leaves an awful lot of opportunity for a good fast front kick to the groin area.I myself, would never leave myself this open for an opponent.Any views?

I like to view the different stances as ways to transfer energy/power into an opponent. If you look at most of the stances in TKD/Karate they are not fit for free-fighting with.

Sometimes looking at things in a different light allows us to see their value.

Cat stance is a very good example of this. This stance seems to have little value, most teachers tell you that this stance is good for executing a front kick from. That may possibly be but, there are much better uses for this stance.

Cat stance can change the polarity of your body, and of your strike. Cat stance can also negate the effects of a wrist lock.

Hello kempoman,There are some things about the wide stance that I can see, that could be put to use.)One is the fact that one could be using this stance to create a trap.Allowing his opponent tot think that he was vulnerable in this area.And when the opponent attacks he could utilize a type of front leg sweep as they do in Judo.Your Brotherin the Arts

In most competitions groin strikes are not permitted. However, I believe that having a forward facing stance, rather than a side one, facilitates two things. Firstly your kicks will be faster and more diguised. Secondly your mobility is greatly enhanced.

Saying all that though, all the stances in TKD competition I have seen (ITF only) are more side on.

Even on the street it is still useful, afterall its not to disimilar to the way we walk.

You will almost never fight from a traditional stance. Whether it is a front stance, cat stance, back stance, what have you. But you fight IN to that stance. Get a good shot at a reverse punch, twist those hips, step out into a front stance and slam it home. Then pull your front leg into a cat stance, sweeping their front leg at the same time. Now that they're off balance step up into a horse (or side, or straddle leg, or sitting) stance with your hip to theirs, grab, twist into another front stance, and throw. Then return to whatever is your natural "fighting" stance.

Well, it's nice to see there are other ITF people here, Taebot and Judderman.

I like to use a boxing-type stance sometimes and a deeper fighting stance sometimes. It's fun to start a match one way and the switch up, changing my style completely. I think when I decide one stance (or strike or kick) is best, then I shut myself off from understanding the strengths of other stances and don't look at the weaknesses of my favorite. I am not naturally good at sparring, so have worked hard at it. I have to use every little trick I can to gain an advantage, so that is one thing I do. Maybe if I was naturally adept I would be able to decide to use one stance.

About the front stance, I agree with Nathan. In sparring I consider front stance a transitional stance to generate power for reverse punches.

I use speed for knockouts, so I don't need a "front stance to add power," so to speak.

Remember pounds per square inch puts area in the denominator and in the numerator, speed is squared while mass is a constant, hence decreasing surface area and increasing speed are the keys to a higher ppi. I think of it as snapping a towel. I put my hips ito it, not my face. When I snap the towel, my wrist must return very quickly, so must my hips when I punch.

Then again, I'm 6', 200+lbs and don't really need to bring to much extra to the table...

brewer how are you? this isnt jimmy"scorpion"brewer is it? wushu legend? any how i dont fight in a certain stance one way or the other you must be able to quickly adapt. a nuetral stance with your feet below your shoulders in a straight on approach works best especially if evading is your game. now the stances do have their merit in training but its like it was said earlier training is not fighting. remember the technique that defeats you is anything except what you have trained for.